Cinder block gives away hardware thief

Candace Bush

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, July 8, 2003

Officials from Katy ISD, the City of Katy and the Katy Development Authority recently broke ground on the new 145,000 square-foot multipurpose arena, designated to serve both the school district and the Katy community. It is expected to be completed by spring 2005.

Designed by PBK Architects with Duratech Construction as the lead contractor, the new arena will seat between 5,000 and 7,000, depending on the configuration.

"(The new arena) represents a true community partnership and is a win-win situation for the us and the City of Katy," said Dr. Leonard Merrell, Katy ISD superintendent.

The first series of events to be held in the arena will be class of 2005 graduations.

"Finally, students will celebrate their graduation here at home, rather than miles away in Houston," said Eric Duhon, president of the Katy ISD board of trustees. "The addition of this facility adds to Katy ISD's reputation of being a first-class district."

The new arena is the result of a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) formed in 1999 by the City of Katy and the school district. The TIRZ, which includes the Katy Mills Mall, Katy High School, the administration building and surrounding property, and the old Odessa Kilpatrick Elementary property, will generate approximately $45 million in revenue for Katy ISD over the 25-year life of the agreement.

"When we first started looking at forming the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone with the school district four years ago, we knew that it would be good for the community," said Ward Stanberry, Katy Development Authority chairman. "Today, as we break ground on the new multi-purpose arena, we are realizing the first benefit from it."

According to Dr. Merrell, funds that accrue also can be used for projects within the boundaries of the TIRZ including Katy High School, the Education Support Center and the Outdoor Learning Center.

In addition, revenue generated by the TIRZ is sheltered from state "Robin Hood" funding formulas, allowing Katy ISD to keep the revenue in the district.

While the school district will administer the new arena, it will be open to civic and community events as well. "The new arena will provide a point of focus for the city, a place where community members can gather," said Doyle Callendar, mayor of the City of Katy. "Civic and community organizations will now have a place hold special functions and performing arts groups will have a state-of-the-art venue in which to have performances. Most importantly, the new arena will be a source of civic pride."

The new arena will be located where the current rodeo arena sits, adjacent to the new educational support complex. As part of the project, a new rodeo arena and L.D. Robinson Pavilion are being built on a site west of the multipurpose arena.